The Assembly has approved a package of ten bills that makes sweeping changes to state welfare programs.

The special session bills include increasing work requirements for FoodShare benefits and would put ID photos on FoodShare benefits cards. Others would block individuals who are behind on child support payments from Medicaid programs and require drug testing and treatment to obtain public housing assistance.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) said they are designed to increase accountability and stop fraud. “Our goal is to make sure people who are on benefits do it for a short amount of time, with the goal to be able to either get the training that they need or the job support to be able to find a way to support themselves or their family, without having a life time dependence on government.”

Democrats were largely silent during debate on the package of bills, which they have described as an election year gimmick. State Representative Lisa Subeck (D-Madison) accused the GOP of “taking a kick at poor people” to fire up their base, ahead of a tough election year.

A top Republican in the state Senate says members of the Wisconsin Elections Commission should pick a new administrator, or else lawmakers will pick one for them.

The bipartisan commission voted 4-2 earlier this week to keep interim administrator Mike Haas in the position, despite the state Senate voting to reject his confirmation. In a statement, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says the panel should find a replacement, calling the vote to retain Haas “unlawful.”

Members of the Elections Commission have argued that Haas can only be fired by the panel. Even though the Senate has denied his confirmation, commissioners contend he can keep the job until they vote to fire him. The dispute is expected to result in a legal battle.

“There are important responsibilities to be fulfilled for the spring elections to proceed,” Fitzgerald argued. “The 45-day window for the commission the select a new administrator has begun. If the commission fails to act, the Joint Committee on Legislative Organization must comply with the law and appoint a new administrator.”

Fitzgerald also praised the Wisconsin Ethics Commission, which voted Thursday to leave its administrator position open for the next 45 days after the Senate also rejected the confirmation of interim director Brian Bell.

Gov. Scott Walker delivers his 2017 State of the State address (File photo: WRN)

As he works to make the case to the people of Wisconsin to consider electing him to a third term in office, Governor Scott Walker will deliver his eighth State of the State address this afternoon at the Capitol.

The Republican governor has been previewing issues he plans to address his speech over the last few weeks. They include making changes to the juvenile corrections system in response to problems at the state Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake facilities, urging lawmakers to pass new welfare reforms, and increasing state aid for rural school districts. Walker’s office says he will “announce his Ambitious Agenda for 2018” in the speech.

Democrats have questioned the governor’s change of heart on several of the initiatives he has talked about in recent weeks, many of which Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) notes are similar to issues his members have been focusing on for years. “Every time he comes out with a new proposal that embraces things that Democrats around the state have been talking about for the last seven years, it’s really an acknowledgment of how much he’s failed,” Hintz says.

Hintz says things he doesn’t expect to hear about in the speech are how he’s failed to fix problems with transportation funding in the state or the historic cuts made to education funding prior to restoring some of that money in the last state budget.
Walker will appear before a joint session of the Legislature at 3pm today.

Despite weeks of attempting to change their minds, members of the state Senate are expected to vote today on whether to confirm the current administrators of the state Ethics and Elections Commissions.

The vote comes after a Department of Justice investigation was released late last year into a leak of information from a secret John Doe investigation that targeted Governor Scott Walker’s campaign and conservative groups. While the investigation did not identify the source of the leak, it found it most likely came from the former Government Accountability Board – an agency both Elections administrator Mike Haas and Ethics administrator Brian Bell worked for. Due to their past connections, Republican senators have questioned whether the two can remain impartial.

Bell and Haas have spent weeks defending their records and have the unanimous support of the commissions they represent. They have also asked that their nominations to head up the agencies be given a public hearing – a request GOP leaders have refused to grant.

Haas, who was head of the elections divisions under the old GAB, has argued that he had no real connection to the John Doe investigation other than working on some legal briefs. Bell, did not work on the investigation and has even said he left the GAB in 2015 because he disagreed with some of the partisan influences within the agency. The Ethics Commission also released an investigative report Monday into Bell’s conduct, which was done at his request, which found there was “not a scintilla of evidence” he has been partisan with his decisions.

Republicans hold a majority of seats in the Senate, but the outcome of the confirmation votes for Haas and Bell still remain unclear. While Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald has previously said he doesn’t believe either has the votes needed for confirmation, there has been some indication that at least a few lawmakers are undecided heading into Tuesday’s vote.

If rejected, Elections Commission Chairman Mark Thomsen has insisted that only the members of the bipartisan commission that oversees the agency can actually fire Haas, and it will require a lawsuit by the Senate to remove him. Bell, on the other hand, has said that lawmakers rejecting his confirmation will mark the end of his work at the agency.

Democrats are questioning the timing, as Governor Scott Walker calls for a special session of the Legislature to take up a package of welfare reform bills. The Republican governor has scheduled stops around the state on Thursday to promote the Wisconsin Works for Everyone welfare reform legislation authored by Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) and Senator Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield). “We want to take able bodied citizens who are able to work, and do everything we can to encourage them to go and fill those help wanted ads that we see everywhere in Wisconsin,” Vos said.

The proposals consists of ten separate pieces of legislation, including bills to place asset restrictions on eligibility for FoodShare, Wisconsin Works, and Wisconsin Shares, to require drug screening, testing, and treatment and employment screening of and employability plans for residents in public housing, and to require photo identification cards for FoodShare recipients.

Rep. Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield)

“Unfortunately, there’s kind of a black market where people have utilized FoodShare cards, to trade them in for non-covered items or even in exchange for illicit items like drugs,” Vos said.

The announcement from Walker comes a day after an electoral setback for his party, as Democrat Patty Schactner won a special election in western Wisconsin’s 10th state Senate District. Walker on Wednesday called the loss of the seat a “wake-up call for Republicans.”

Democratic Party of Wisconsin chair Martha Laning made note of the loss in a statement:

“Scott Walker is clearly scared by Republicans’ election loss this week. So today he’s grabbing for what self-serving career politicians always do–dividing people. He is lashing out at lower-income families down on their luck to please his wealthy elite donors. His crass, calculated political move to make Wisconsin hate again is a desperate tactic pitting Wisconsinites against one another — and it will fail.”

Sen. Jennifer Shilling (WRN image)

But, even with Schactner’s win, Republicans maintain their majorities in both chambers of the legislature, meaning that there’s little Democrats will be able to do, to impede passage of the legislative package.

“It’s interesting, the governor isn’t calling for a special session on sparsity aid for rural schools, he’s not calling a special session on closing Lincoln Hills, he’s not calling a special session on transportation funding,” said Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh). “I would say those issues are far more important to the state, but don’t seem to be an issue for this governor after an election where Republicans got creamed.”

“I think the governor seems a little unhinged right now, with his late night tweets after the election,” said Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse). “They are looking to energize their base.”

Kapenga though, said the proposals are the result of 18 months of work on the issue of helping people get into work, and he believes that if they are passed and implemented, it will help individuals on assistance as well as employers looking to fill positions. “That’s why we started this work 18 months ago, looking at what we can actually do here that will make this connection and be a win-win for everybody.” he said. “We want to incentivize getting people into a position.”

Rep. Gordon Hintz (WRN image)

Vos said Walker is “really putting a special focus on this, which is going to help Senator Kapenga move these bills through the spring session, to hopefully get them on his desk before the snow melts.”

Several of the bills, including those requiring drug testing for benefit eligibility, would also require waivers from the federal government before they could be implemented.

“Governor Walker is pushing this mistaken narrative that if someone needs help, then there is something wrong with his or her character,” said Senator Lena Taylor (D–Milwaukee). “This is about gutting services and punishing low-income children and families who made the mistake of being born into poverty.”

Governor Scott Walker’s call for lawmakers to act quickly on juvenile corrections reforms received a tepid response Tuesday from Republican leaders in the state Assembly.

The governor wants lawmakers to pass legislation before the session ends that would start the process of closing the state’s youth prison in Lincoln County and move offenders to smaller regional facilities. The request comes after Walker faced criticism from Democrats for initially saying he would delay action on the issue until the next state budget – after he faces reelection.

Asked by reporters about whether the Assembly would act on the issue before the session ends this spring, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) said his members share the same goal as the governor, but added his chamber may look at other ways to get there. “There are other options out there besides just having…a model that was state run,” Vos said. “There are other possible innovations which would hopefully accomplish the same goals, perhaps even at a lower cost and with better outcomes.”

Assembly Republicans are working on a proposal that could shift more responsibility for juvenile corrections to the local level. No bill has been introduced yet.

Vos said he would like to see action on the issue this session, but there needs to be a plan first that has the support of both chambers. “If we’re able to do it by the end of the session, that would be our goal,” he said. “But I’m also not going to set that as a hard, fast deadline if we don’t have the right plan.”

Governor Scott Walker has changed his mind about when to make changes to the state’s juvenile corrections system.

The governor on Tuesday morning released a statement urging lawmakers to pass legislation this year that would overhaul how young offenders are housed and receive treatment. The move would push up the time table for overhauling the youth corrections system by at least 18 months, after Walker earlier this month proposed making the changes in the state budget that will be taken up in 2019.

Walker wants to close the state’s Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake facilities and open five smaller regional facilities around the state. The youth prison in Irma has been a source of intense controversy, following reports of abuse targeting inmates and complaints about staff safety. Walker’s plan also calls for eventually re-opening the prison as a facility housing adult offenders.

While many Democrats said they were happy to see something being proposed, Walker also faced criticism because his plan would delay changes to the already troubled system for more than a year.

The governor and Department of Corrections initially said acting too soon would be difficult, because of the need to design and build new facilities before young inmates can be relocated. Walker on Tuesday said his administration now plans to put out a call next week for architects and engineers to develop plans for the five new facilities. He hopes to have those firms selected by next month.

It remains unclear whether lawmakers will have time this spring to draft and approve legislation that would make the changes the governor is calling for. The Wisconsin State Journal reported that some Assembly Republicans are working on legislation that would give counties more control over juvenile corrections, but no bill has been introduced yet.

The head of the Wisconsin Elections Commission says the agency’s administrator is being “railroaded” due to partisan politics.

Senate Republicans plan to hold votes on whether to confirm Administrator Mike Haas and Ethics Commission Administrator Brian Bell when the chamber meets on January 23rd. While the boards overseeing both agencies have now asked for public hearings on their appointments to be held, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) has so far indicated that will not be happening.

Wisconsin Elections Commission Chair Mark Thomsen says it’s a “travesty of justice” that Haas could be rejected without having a chance to make his case to lawmakers. “For an unknown partisan reason, they want Mr. Haas’ head,” Thomsen says. “That should not take place. This is not Democracy in action.”

Republicans have been calling for Haas and Bell to resign following the release of a Department of Justice report last month that was critical of operations in their agencies. The report was the result of an investigation into a leak of information from a secret investigation into Governor Scott Walker’s campaign, which took place under the former Government Accountability Board. The Ethics and Elections Commissions replaced the GAB after it was dissolved by Republicans. Haas and Bell were not among the names the attorney general suggested should face action based on his findings, which were unable to determine the source of the leak.

Thomsen says Haas has the full support of commission members and has been recognized nationally for his work with the agency. “There hasn’t been an iota of any evidence or facts that would indicate Mike Haas isn’t the most qualified, competent person to run our agency,” he argues.

Even if the Senate rejects their confirmations, Thomsen believes Haas will be able to remain in his job unless members of the commission actually vote to fire him. Firing him would require a majority vote from the panel that’s even split between Republican and Democratic appointees. So far, the six members have been unanimous in their support of him staying.

Fitzgerald has not commented on his decision not to hold hearings on Haas and Bell’s confirmations.

Following more than two years of stories about inmate abuse, staffing shortages, and other violence at the facilities, Governor Scott Walker has outlined a plan to close the state’s troubled Lincoln Hills and Cooper Lake youth prisons and move inmates to smaller, more regional facilities. Lincoln Hills would be reopened as a medium security facility for housing adult offenders.

Located north of Wausau in Lincoln County, both facilities have been the subject of state and federal investigations, numerous negative news stories, and civil rights lawsuits that have challenged the techniques used to control the inmate population and the conditions young offenders are living in. Walker has insisted for months that he is confident the Department of Corrections could handle the ongoing situation at Lincoln Hills, and has declined to visit staff there.

Walker’s plan unveiled Wednesday would turn Lincoln Hills into an adult facility, while moving juvenile offenders to five smaller, regional facilities located around the state. It also calls for expanding the juvenile treatment program at the Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center in Madison.

“By moving from one facility to several facilities across the state, and placing a focus on mental health and trauma-informed care, we believe this plan will improve long-term outcomes for both juveniles and our staff working at these facilities,” Walker said in a statement.

The $80 million proposal would largely not be implemented until after the 2019 state budget is passed, after Walker faces reelection to a third term in office.

While the proposal boasts bipartisan support, many Democrats were almost immediately skeptical of the timing of the announcement.

Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) called the proposal a “hollow campaign gimmick” in a press release, arguing that Walker is only acting now because it helps his political ambitions. “The timing of this announcement is so transparent and does nothing to address the immediate safety concerns for staff and youth. The counselors and youth need help, and the only person who is in a position to do anything refuses to step foot in the facility,” she argued.

State Representative Dana Wachs (D-Eau Claire), one of several Democratic candidates for governor looking to challenge Walker in November, argued the governor has had the “opportunity to do the right thing time and time again, but he only caved after the pressure became too much.”

State Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee), who has long called for action to address concerns about the facilities, said Walker was a “day late and dollar short” on addressing the issue. “After years of neglect, and ignoring the many legislative proposals that I introduced to bring relief to juveniles and correctional officers, Governor Walker is just now getting to do his job right in time for another election bid,” Taylor said in a statement. “As governor, he has failed to visit a single correctional or juvenile facility in his entire tenure. It’s clear where is priorities are, and that this is just another attempt to play politics and get this scandal, recently confirmed by his former Corrections Secretary, off his back.”

It would appear that the Green Bay Packers are serious about shaking things up after a disappointing 7-9 season that saw them miss the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

The NFL Network first reported that GM Ted Thompson would step down and a search for his replacement would begin immediately. Thompson’s contract is set to expire after next season and he’s expected to move into an advisory position within the personnel department.

The search won’t be limited to just in-house candidates. That list includes director of football operations Eliot Wolf, director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst, senior personnel advisor Alonzo Highsmith and vice president of football administration/player finance Russ Ball.

Among the top candidates outside of the organization are Minnesota assistant general manager George Paton, Eagles vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas and Baltimore Ravens assistant general manager Eric DeCosta.

Also to be considered is what to do with head coach Mike McCarthy, who is entering the final year of his contract. Team president Mark Murphy must decide whether to extend McCarthy’s contract regardless of who the new GM is, or he can leave McCarthy’s fate in the hands of the new GM.

Thompson was hired by Ron Wolf in 1992 and stayed with the Packers until 2000, when he left to join former Packers coach Mike Holmgren with the Seattle Seahawks. Thompson served as Seattle’s vice president of football operations until 2005 when he was hired to take over the general manager position in Green Bay.

Mark Murphy is expected to meet with reporters to discuss the latest move on Tuesday.